INDEPENDENT NEWS

Residents Clean Up At Create Your Own Eden Awards

Published: Thu 4 Dec 2003 01:15 PM
North Shore City residents clean up at Create your own Eden Awards
December 3, 2003
A Devonport couple has surpassed the efforts of other North Shore, Manukau and Auckland residents achieving this year's only gold Create your own Eden award for smart gardening.
The award, presented by 'bugman' Ruud Kleinpaste at the Ellerslie Flower Show, went to Louise and Danny de Varga for using gardening techniques that nurture, protect and improve the environment.
Their winning formula includes composting and worm farming, replacing lawn with low-maintenance native plants, collecting and reusing rainwater, using recycled landscaping materials and mulch to retain garden moisture. The de Vargas also run 'Composting-for- Shore' and open days so other residents can learn about composting and other low-waste gardening methods.
Ruud Kleinpaste says gardens were judged on design and appearance, plants and techniques used and efficient use of resources.
"This year we had some very clever people who thought a lot about 'what nature would do' when designing their gardens," he says.
North Shore City Council's works and environment committee deputy chairperson, Tony Barker, says the Create your own Eden awards encourage gardeners to think about how much organic waste they send to landfill.
"To many people having and maintaining a garden is doing their bit for the environment, but they often don't think about their food and garden waste adding to the amount of rubbish going to landfills and the negative effect this has on the environment," says Councillor Barker.
The council's waste prevention officer, Danielle Kennedy, says the award winners have considered the wider impact of residential gardens on the environment.
"They have taken the good things gardens provide the urban environment a step further by promoting actions that reduce the amount of organic matter going to landfill," says Mrs Kennedy.
Other North Shore City winners include: Jacqueline and Roderick Sach, Devonport Gardens, Verran Primary School and Barbara Scrivens who achieved silver; Kathleen Brock, Kauri Park School and Manuka School who won bronze; and Maureen Burke, Forrest Hill School and Sherwood Community Organic Gardens who received merit awards.
People are invited to visit www.northshorecity.govt.nz or www.compostingforshore.co.nz to find out more about low-waste gardening and simple actions that can be taken to reduce the amount of organic matter going to landfill.
ENDS

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